Saraki Never Declared His Foreign Accounts – Witness Tells Cct

BEVERLY HILLS, April 21, (THEWILL) – Michael Wetkas, the investigative officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and prosecution witness 1 in the 13-count charge brought against the Senate President Bukola Saraki, has told Justice Danladi Umar of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) that Saraki never declared his foreign accounts.

Wetkas made the declaration as he was being cross examined by Paul Usoro, adding that other members of the larger investigative team had questioned Saraki, as a result of intelligence report over some of his properties and companies controlled locally and internationally, Societe Generals Bank and assets he declared before the Code of Conduct Bureaue (CCB), to which he made statements.

When asked if the team including that of the CCB interrogated Saraki, Wetkas said “no, it was in the cause of the analysis of the forms by the CCB officials that we realised that the American Express Service card was not disclosed in the asset declaration form.”

He argued that the credit card was the same as bank account, as it usually identifies by an account number from where you can pay in money or spend money in the course of transaction.

“By my understand, I do not see any difference between the card and the account. I am not aware of the fact that other financial institutions can issue cards.

“I do not know Harold’s departmental store that issues credit card and I do not have experience on banking activities as well as credit cards.”

Wetkas had earlier told the tribunal that the Guarantee Trust Bank had furnished the investigation team with some Telex messages, but said the account number was not contained in the transaction instrument sent to it.

He however stated that the telex was the document of instruction that effected the transfer of funds by the customer to the third party. “The issue of standard form, I cannot say categorically, the bank would be in the best position to talk about this,” he said.

The matter was however adjourned to April 27, 2016 for continuation of cross-examination of Wetkas.

Story by David Oputah